soil tests

Soil Test Warning: What North Carolina Gardeners Are Finding in Their Yards This January

January 15, 2026 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

January is not just a month for cozy sweaters and hot cocoa—it’s turning into a revelation for North Carolina gardeners. Across the state, backyard enthusiasts are rolling up their sleeves and digging into something a little less glamorous than snowdrifts: their soil. Soil tests done this month are yielding results that are both surprising and…

7 Soil Tests That Give the Best Results in Fall

November 19, 2025 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

As the leaves turn gold and the air starts carrying that crisp autumn scent, gardeners everywhere start thinking about how to prep their soil for the months ahead. Fall isn’t just a time for pumpkin spice lattes—it’s one of the best times to understand what’s happening underground. After the heat of summer, the soil has…

How To Get Free Seeds From The Government by Amanda Blankenship Seeds might seem like a small expense, but any seasoned…
Should I Use Enviro Ice On My Plants? by Kathryn Vercillo Every week, I receive food from Hungryroot. It's a great…
From Trash to Treasure: Transform Shredded Paper Into Garden Gold by Amanda Blankenship Should you use shredded paper as garden mulch? It might…
What Happens to Plants If You Use Enviro Ice on Them? by Amanda Blankenship About a year ago, I wrote our first article about…

The Plant That Smells Like Rotting Meat — And Why Gardeners Still Grow It

Imagine walking into your garden and catching a whiff of something that smells suspiciously like a dead animal. You check beneath the bushes, look around the fence, and wonder whether something has died nearby. Then you realize the smell is coming from one of your flowers. Believe it or not, some gardeners intentionally grow a…

5 Plants That Look Completely Dead but Can Surprise You With New Growth

You walk outside after a long winter, inspect your garden, and discover something disappointing: several plants you spent good money on appear completely dead. Their stems are brown, their leaves have disappeared, and there’s no obvious sign that anything is still growing. Your first instinct might be to grab a shovel, pull everything out, and…

Your Neighbor Complains About Your Wildflower Garden — Could You Be Forced to Mow It Down?

You spent months transforming an ordinary patch of grass into a colorful wildflower garden filled with native plants, butterflies, and buzzing bees. Instead of spending every weekend mowing, you’re enjoying a beautiful landscape that requires less maintenance and supports local wildlife. Then an unexpected letter arrives from your city or homeowners association: A neighbor complained…

What Happens if You Plant the Seeds From a Grocery Store Lemon?

You slice open a lemon from the grocery store, squeeze the juice into your water, and notice several plump seeds left behind. Instead of tossing them into the trash, you start wondering whether those seeds could grow into an actual lemon tree. After all, if a single lemon costs less than a dollar, wouldn’t growing…